1. POLY'GALA CHAMEBU'XUS L. The Dwarf Box Polygala, or Box-leaved Milkwort. (Jacq. Aust., t. 233.; Sims, Bot. Mag., t. 316.; and our fig. 77.) Described as having fruticose, branched, procumbent stems, with oblonglanceolate mucronated leaves; the racemes 1-2-flowered; the keel of the flower crested. It forms a little evergreen tuft, the leaves being like those of the dwarf box; and the yellowish flowers, which are slightly tipped with purple, resembling at a distance those of the order Legumi. nosæ. It is a native of mountainous woods in many parts of Europe, particularly in those of Germany and Switzerland. In rocky situations, it seldom exceeds 6 in. in height; but in heath soil, or in sandy loam enriched with leaf mould, it will grow to the height of a foot and upwards, flowering freely every year. This plant has been in cultivation in British gardens since 1658. Miller says that the seeds, which are with difficulty obtained from abroad, do not vegetate till they have been a whole year in the ground; unless they are sown soon after they are ripe, which is in August or September, in which case they will come up the following spring. It is readily propagated, however, by division of the plant, as it throws up suckers in abundance. This plant succeeds very well in most gardens, in a shady situation, and in peat soil kept rather moist. Intermixed with Gaultheria procúmbens, Mitchella rèpens, Linnæ a borealis, and other dwarf.growing shrubs, Polygala Chamabúxus will form a rich margin to American groups. The price, in the London nurseries, is 50s. a hundred; it being frequently sold in quantities for forming edginge to beds of peat-earth plants. 2. The half-hardy Polygalas are evergreen shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope; and in Britain they are generally treated as greenhouse plants, though some of them have stood against a wall, with protection during winter: and so great is their beauty during summer, that, we think, whoever has a conservative wall ought to place some of them against it. Above twenty Cape species have been introduced; but the most common are, P. oppositifolia L. (Bot. Reg., t. 636.), which is a native of the mountainous part of the Cape, and tolerably hardy; P. oppositifolia major fig. 78.), called by some P. grandiflora, which is equally hardy, and is a fine variety; P. latifolia Ker, P. myrtifolia, P. grandiflora Lodd., P. bracteolàta L, P. speciosa Bot. Mag., and P. atte nuàta Lodd., all fine plants, with bright purple flowers mixed with white, and some of them with red, and all procurable in the principal London nurseries. Like almost all other Cape shrubs, they grow best in heath soil, or in a mixture of sand and leaf mould; and, when they are cultivated against a wall in the open ground, great care should be taken not to let their stems be injured by damp in autumn, more especially at the surface of the ground; or, in technical language, at the collar. There are some trees and shrubs belonging to the order Polygalàceæ in the Himalaya; which, when introduced, will be worth trying against a conservative wall with the Cape species. 78 CHAP. XIII. OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS SPECIES OF THE ORDER PITTOSPORA CEE. Distinctive Characteristics. Thalamiflorous. (H. B.) Sepals 5, petals 5; both imbricate in æstiva tion. Stamens 5, distinct, alternate with the petals. Ovarium of several cells, with the placenta in the axis; cells or placenta 2 or 5 in number, and many-ovuled. Style 1. Stigmas as many as the pla centæ. Fruit capsular, or berried. Seeds often covered with a glutinous or resinous pulp. (Lindl. In to N. S.) The species contained in this order are all ligneous; and are either trees, or bushy or climbing shrubs, with terminal or axillary flowers, usually of a bell-shape, with a spreading border. They are natives of warm climates; but some species of Pittosporum, Billardièra, and Sollya, are half-hardy, and suitable for a conservative wall. GENUS I. BILLARDIERA SM. THE BILLARDIERA, or APPLE-BERRY. Lin. Syst. Pentándria Monogynia. Derivation. Named in honour of Jean Jacques Julien La Billardière, a celebrated French botanist, who visited Syria, and afterwards New Holland in D'Entrecastreux's expedition. He was the author of Nova Hollandia Plantarum Specimen, and other works. CHAP. XIII. PITTOSPORA CEE. SO'LLYA. Gen. Char. Corolla tubularly bell-shaped. Anthers widely distant, opening lengthwise. Ovary 2-celled, many-ovuled. Pericarp soft, spongy, subbaccate, the cells inflated. Seeds many, lying loose in the cells, not attended by pulp. Twining Australian shrubs, with entire or serrated leaves, and axillary flowers, sub-solitary, pendulous, and of a colour passing from green to yellow. (Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1719.) The fruit, in most of the species, is of a bluish colour when ripe, and is eatable. (Dec. Prod., and Don's Mill.) 1. B. LONGIFLO'RA Labill. The long-flowered Billar- Identification. Labill. Nov. Holl., t. 89.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 373. 79 ing vigorously, and flowering and fruiting freely in conservatories; whence we are led to conclude that it will answer against a conservative wall. In a conservatory it is an interesting twiner, from its slender habit, abundant small leaves, and rather numerous dark blue fruits. 22. B. OVA LIS Lindl. The oval-leaved Billardiera, or Apple-berry. Identification. Lindl. in Bot. Reg., t. 1719. Engraving. Bot. Reg., t. 1719. Spec. Char., &c. Of this species Dr. Lindley states that "it is nearly related to B. longiflora, from which it chiefly differs in its smaller and shorter flowers, and more oval obtuse leaves. Its flowers change from greenish yellow to dark purple, and appear in May. A native of Van Diemen's Land, whence it was introduced by Mr. Low of Clapton." (Bot. Reg., t. 1719. Nov. 1834.) Dr. Lindley adds, "It is probable that Billardièra ovàlis will be quite hardy enough to live in this country, trained to a west wall, if protected from wet in winter; at all events, a cold-pit would be an ample covering for it, and for all the other species. The beautiful Sóllya grows with all its native luxuriance in such a situation." (Ibid.) 23. B. MUTA BILIS H. K. The changeable-colouredflowered Billardiera, or Apple-berry. (fig. 80.) A native of New South Wales, and producing purplish flowers from June to September. It is not such a strong-growing plant as B. longifldra, and is probably more tender than that species; but, on account of the beauty of the flowers, and the large size of the fruit, it ought to be tried. GENUS II. SO'LLYA Lindl. THE SOLLYA. Lin. Syst. Pentándria Monogynia. Synonyme. Billardièra, in one species. Derivation. Named in honour of Richard Horsman Solly, Esq., F.R.S., &c.; "whose general acquaintance with science, and, as far as botany is concerned, with vegetable physiology and anatomy, are such as to entitle him most fully to such a mark of respect." (Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1466.) Gen. Char. Calyx minute. Corolla spreadingly bell-shaped, petals rather unequal. Stamens op-Australian posite the petals. Anthers disposed into a cone, connate at the tip, and each opening by two pores at its tip. Ovary 2-celled, many-ovuled. Pericarp spindle-shaped, many-seeded. shrubs, twining in some degree. Leaves simple, alternate, remaining long on the plant, devoid of stipules. Flowers in cymes that are placed opposite the leaves, blue. (Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1466. Jan. 1832.) Fruit 4-celled, the seeds enveloped by a soft pleasant pulp. (D. Don, in Sw. Fl.-Gard., 2. ser. Aug. 1854.) Fruit, as examined in a half-ripe state, 2-celled; each cell occupied by two rows of seeds, set fast in a firm somewhat fleshy substance, which fills each cell, and which we presume to be what finally becomes the pulp that envelopes the seeds. (Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1719. Nov. 1834.) 1. S. HETEROPHY'LLA Lindl. The various-leaved Sollya. Identification. Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1466. t. 1719. CC 4 2. S. ANGUSTIFOLIA Lindl. The narrow-leaved Sollya. Identification. Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1466. Synonymes. Billardiera fusiformis Lab. Nov. Holl., Don's Mill., 1. p. 373., and Loudon's Hort. Spec. Char., &c. Flowers cream-coloured, changing to bluish. Fruit dry, the pericarp villous, of the consistence of parchment. (Lindl., in Bot. Reg., t. 1466.; Don's Mill., 1. p. 373., under Billar. dièra fusifórmis Lab.) Branches hardly climbing; younger ones rather villous. Leaves lanceolate, entire. Cymes few-flowered. Petals spreading. Native of Van Diemen's Land. A green-house climbing shrub. Flowers in May and August. Cultivated in Britain in 1823. (Don's Mill., i. p. 373., under the name Billardièra fusifórmis Lab.) This species deserves trial against a conservative wall, along with the others. GENUS III. PITTO'SPORUM Banks. THE PITTOSPORUM. Lin. Syst. Pentándria Identification. Banks, in Gært. Fr. 1. p. 286. t. 59.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 346.; and Don's Mill, 1. p. 373. Derivation. From pitta, pitch, and sporos, a seed; in allusion to the seeds being covered with a sticky pulp. Gen. Char. Calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 5, with the claws conniving into a connate tube. Capsules smooth or hairy; 2-5-valved, l-celled, bearing a dissepiment in the middle of each valve. Seeds covered with a resinous pulp. (Don's Mill, i. p. 373.)- Evergreen shrubs, or low trees, with entire permanent leaves, generally more or less lanceolate." The species known to be half-hardy are two, but all the rest may be equally so. 1. P. TOBIRA Ait. The Tobira Pittosporum. Identification. Sims Bot. Mag., 1896.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 346.; and Don's Mill., 1. p. 373. Synonymes. Euonymus Tobira Thunb., chap. 99.; Pittosporum chinense Donn's, H. Cantab., 48. Tobira Japane, Fr.; Chinesischer Klebsaame, Ger. Engravings. Kampf. Amen., t. 797.; Bot. Mag., t. 1396.; and our fig. 82. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves obovate, obtuse, coriaceous, quite smooth. Peduncles 1-flowered, pubescent, disposed in aggregate umbels. (Don's Mill., i. p. 373.) An evergreen shrub, growing to the height of 12 ft. in its native country, and producing its cream-coloured flowers from March till August. It was introduced in 1804, and is generally treated as a green-house plant; but, planted in a warm situation against a wall, it endures the winters of the climate of London without any protection when they are mild; and with the ground covered with litter, and the branches screened by a mat, when they are severe. The plant will grow in any free soil, sufficiently drained, and is readily propagated by cuttings of the young wood in sand. The largest specimens of which we have received any accounts are in Ireland; one in the Cullenswood Nursery, near Dublin, 20 years planted, being 10 ft. high, as a standard in the open air. In the neighbourhood of London, there are various plants placed against the ends and fronts of green-houses, which have reached 5 ft. or 6 ft. in height in as many years; which are protected by a mat in very severe winters, and which, when not protected, sometimes die down to the ground, and spring up again the following season. Their glossy dark green leaves, and fragrant cream-coloured flowers, are very ornamental during summer. Price of plants, in the London nurseries, 2s. 6d. each, 2. P. UNDULA TUM. The undulated-leaved Pittosporum. Identification. And. Bot. Rep.; Vent. Hort. Cels.; Ker Bot. Reg Engravings. Vent. Hort. Cels, 1. t. 76.; Bot. Rep., t. 393.; Delauny, Spec. Char., &c. Leaves oval-lanceolate, undulated, tapering at both ends, and, as well as the footstalks, glabrous. Peduncles terminal, aggregate, pubescent, branched, many-flowered. (Don's Mill., i p. 373.) An evergreen shrub, growing to the height of 10 ft., introduced in 1789, and producing its white flowers from May to June. As hardy as the preceding species. The finest plant in England is understood to be in the conservatory at Ashridge Park, which, when we saw it in 1829, was 12 ft. high. In various situations, it has lived against a wall, protected during winter and flowering freely in summer. Culture, uses, price, &c., as in the preceding species. App. i. Other Species of Pittosporum. P. revolutum Ait. (Bot. Reg., 186., and Bot. Cab., t. 506.), from Port Jackson; P. tomentosum App. I. Other Pittosporaceæ probably half-hardy. Senacia nepalensis Dec., a shrub from Nepal, introduced in 1820, and treated as a green-house plant; and Bursària spinòsa Cav. figured in Bot. Mag., 1767., a shrub from New Holland, producing a profusion of elegant little white blossoms; are probably as hardy as the species of Pittós porum, which have been tried against a conservative wall. Cheiranthèra linearis which Dr. Lindley states (Bot. Reg., t. 1719.), to be "one of the most beautiful plants in all the flora of New Holland," would be also, if a plant of it could be obtained, well worthy of a trial. CHAP. XIV. OF THE HARDY SUFFRUTICOSE PLANTS OF THE ORDER THIS order is introduced chiefly for the sake of the tree carnation, one of the oldest inhabitants of British gardens, and one of the finest plants that can be placed against a conservative wall. There are various species and varieties of Dianthus, which, technically considered, are ligneous plants. Indeed, the common pink and carnation are shrubs, and that, too, evergreen; because they do not die down to an underground bud, at the end of the growing season, like, for example, Ranúnculus àcris. 84 21. Diánthus Caryophyllus var. fruticosus Hort., the shrubby Clove Pink,or Tree Carnation, in its wild state, is a native of the south of France, of the Alps of Switzerland; and, in England, it is found on old ruinous walls near towns, particularly on Rochester Castle, on the old walls of Norwich, and on ruins adjoining several other old English towns. It has been cultivated in gardens from time immemorial; and is highly valuable, no less for the brilliancy of its colours, than for the aromatic fragrancy of its flowers. The tree variety is one which has been originated, in all probability, by training the plant against a wall, and thus keeping it continually in a growing state without permitting it to rest, and afterwards continuing this habit by propagating it by layers or cuttings. The flowers of the tree carnation are not so various and beautiful as those of the common dwarf carnation; but they are still objects of very great beauty, and are universally admired for their symmetry of form, rich colours, and grateful odour. Planted against an east or west wall, in calcareous loam, and carefully trained, a plant will grow at the rate of a foot a year; and, if pro tected during very severe winters, it will attain the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft. In Scotland, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, in Dalroy Nursery, in 1800, a plant against the west end of a green-house covered, in five years, a space 8 ft. wide, and 6 ft. high, flowering beautifully every year. 2. Other suffruticose evergreen Caryophyllacea. Diánthus arbúscula Bot. Reg., 1086., D. arboreus L. (Bot. Cab., 459., and our fig. 84.), D. fruticosus L., and D. suffruticosus W., are all beautiful glaucous 85 leaved evergreens, which require a little protection during winter, and produce their fragrant pink Silène fruticosa L., Arenaria verticillata W., and Drypis spinosa L flowers from June to August. (Bot. Mag., 2216., and our fig. 85.), are all beautiful little evergreens, from 1 ft. to 1 ft. in height. CHAP. XV. · OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY SUFFRUTICOSE PLANTS OF THE ORDER LINA CEÆ. THIS order is included in our catalogue for the sake of the tree flax, Lìnum arbòreum L. (Bot. Mag., t. 234., and our fig. 86.) It is a native of Candia and Italy, on the mountains, and forms a neat little evergreen bush in dry soils, in warm situations in the neighbourhood of London, requiring little or no protection, except during the most severe winters. The largest plants which we have seen of it were in a sandy border in the garden at Nonsuch Park, in Surrey. They were about 2 ft. high, and 3 ft. broad, and they pro duced their fine large yellow flowers from May to September; în the same situation ripening seeds, from which, or from cuttings, they are readily propagated. Linum toúricum W., from Tauria, which grows to the height of 14 ft., and L. salsolöldes Lam., with pink flowers, are equally hardy with L. arboreum; and all three should be included in every complete arboretum and fruticetum. L. suffruticosum, from Spain, an old inhabitant of our green-houses, with pink flowers, is, in all probability, as hardy as the others. 86 CHAP. XVI. OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER MALVA`CEÆ. DISTINCTIVE Characteristics. Thalamiflorous. (H. B.) Calyx with a valvate æstivation, mostly with an involucre. Stamens with the filaments monadelphous, and the anthers 1-celled. Pubescence starry. (Lind. Inirod. to N. S.) The hardy ligneous species of this order are few, but splendid; the Hibiscus syriacus, and its different varieties, being among the most ornamental of flowering shrubs. Chemically, all the species abound in a nutritive mucilage; and, medicinally, they are emollient. The fibrous threads of the inner bark may, in most of the species, when properly prepared, be manufactured into cordage or cloth. The genera containing hardy or half-hardy species are two: Lavátera and Hibiscus ; the distinctive characters of which are:— LAVA TERA L. Carpels capsular, 1-seeded, disposed into a ring around the axis. HIBISCUS L. Carpels joined into a 5-celled capsule. GENUS I. LAVA TERA L. THE LAVATERA, or TREE MALLOW. Lin. Syst. Identification. Lin. Gen., n. 842.; Dec. Prod., 1. 458.; Don's Mill., 1. 468. Gen. Char.. &c. Calyx 5-cleft, girded by a 3- or 5-cleft involucel; its leaflets being joined as far as the middle. Carpels capsular, 1-seeded, disposed into a ring around the axis, which is variously dilated above the fruit. (Dec. Prod., i. p. 438.) The half-hardy ligneous specics are L. marítima, triloba, subovata, and africana. 1. L. MARITIMA Gouan. The sea-side-inhabiting Lavatera. |